When Raj Thackeray broke away from the Shiv Sena a year ago, following differences with his cousin and executive president of the party, Uddhav Thackeray, he pretended to have undergone a metamorphosis. The party he floated, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), was ostensibly a ‘secular’ one, with a flag that bore thin blue and green strips (symbolising Dalits and Muslims respectively) along with a broad saffron band. He also spoke of going beyond the ‘Marathi Manoos’ and ‘Hindutva’.

But his outbursts against migrants in general and Biharis in particular have revealed that he is yet to discard his Shiv Sena identity. And how can he? He still “worships” his uncle, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, imitates his words and gestures. He has steadfastly refused to speak a word against his “God, who is surrounded by selfish priests (read Uddhav and his coterie)”.

Raj has always acted as a clone of his uncle and has seldom lost an opportunity to drive home the point that he is the perfect replica of Thackeray Sr. Four years ago, when his bete noire, Uddhav, (after having been made the heir apparent) launched the ‘Me Mumbaikar’ campaign in Mumbai aimed at reaching out to non-Marathi residents of the metropolis, Raj (then in the Shiv Sena), played spoilsport. His supporters roughed up some north Indian youth who had come for job interviews with the Central Railway. Raj’s gesture immediately earned him the gratitude of the hardliners in the party and the ‘Me Mumbaikar’ campaign fizzled out.

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